Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 29/09/2015 16:42:38

Title: If you were able to take a paper airplane and throw it from 35000 ft, how long will it fly and how far will it go?
Post by: thedoc on 29/09/2015 16:42:38

Mo Islam asked the Naked Scientists:































   































If you were able to take a paper airplane and throw it from 35000 ft, how long will it fly and how far will it go?































































What do you think?

Title: Re: If you were able to take a paper airplane and throw it from 35000 ft, how long will it fly and h
Post by: Colin2B on 25/09/2015 15:26:39

You could start by throwing you airplane from head height and seeing how far it goes. If you extrapolate the height up to 35000ft that tells you the likely distance it could go in still uniform air. Unfortunately, wind, air density variations, windshear, updrafts, etc mean it is very unpredictable.

Title: Re: If you were able to take a paper airplane and throw it from 35000 ft, how long will it fly and h
Post by: alancalverd on 25/09/2015 16:33:47

Glide ratios of about 12:1 are achievable with a simple folded-construction ("origami") plane but it seems possible to get close to 30:1 with a cut-and-glued structure. In calm air these would travel between 70 and 175 nautical miles respectively from 35,000 ft.